Filipino scoops Bacardi cruise prize

Filipino bartender Gerome Firmalo has won the Bacardi Cruise Competition Bartender of the Year 2015 with his cocktail Passion Blossom 13. Firmalo, who works on Holland America’s MS Oosterdam, created a cocktail inspired by his travels and triumphed over 2,500 other creations from the cruise industry’s finest mixologists in this year’s competition.

Gerome Firmalo, Bacardi Cruise Competition Bartender of the Year 2015

Fantastic showcase for brands

Firmalo, who scoops a $5,000 cash prize, concocted a floral martini Passion Blossom 13 made from equal quantities Bombay Sapphire gin and St-Germain elderflower liqueur, combined with passion fruit syrup, lemon sour and cranberry juice. He will now see his creation featured onboard MS Oosterdam. Bacardi will work with Firmalo over the next year on professional training, including a personalised Bacardi experience.

“The Passion Blossom 13 embodies what we look for in a cocktail,” said Zachary Sulkes, regional manager of Bacardi Travel Retail Americas. “It achieves the perfect mix of ingredients, a well-balanced flavour and simplicity that will appeal to cruise vacationers. This was a close battle, and Gerome is a worthy winner.

“Cruise is an important strategic channel for Bacardi Global Travel Retail and this competition helps drive category growth for our cruise and ferry line partners. It’s a fantastic showcase for our brands, especially given the increasing numbers of consumer groups from emerging markets who are new to cruise.”

Delighted at his win, Firmalo enthused: “Winning the Bacardi Cruise Competition gives me great personal pride with the added kudos of such professional recognition. There’s no doubt it will help me develop my bartending career.” 

The shortlisted finalists were judged in Florida by a panel comprising: Trevor Alberts, Edition Hotel bartender and a finalist in the United States Bacardi Legacy Finals in February; Chris Gray Faust, destinations editor, Cruise Critic; and Hillary Choo and Ben Carlotto, professional mixologists from TEAM Enterprises.

The finalists participated in a three-day schedule of events, rubbing shoulders with some of Florida’s finest bartenders and visiting iconic bars in Miami’s South Beach to learn from on-trade professionals in action.

The other finalists were: Kenneth Tuason from Holland America’s Maasdam, Richard Anderson from Carnival Glory, Nilesh Patel from Carnival Sensation and Royal Caribbean’s Oleksandr Lurchenko.

Porsche Design’s golden gem

German luxury brand Porsche Design has launched one of the world's most exclusive writing tools for pen aficionados: the P’3135 Solid Gold Limited Edition fountain pen, crafted from a single piece of solid gold. Retailing at €25,000, this distinctive writing instrument is limited to 11 pieces worldwide and will be exclusively available at selected Porsche Design stores from mid-April 2015.

Porsche Design P'3135 Solid Gold Limited Edition fountain pen

Pure silhouette

The P'3135 Solid Gold is milled out of a single piece of solid pure 14-/585 carat gold. The progressive, pure silhouette underlines the fountain pen’s distinctive shape, and is rounded off by the integral 18-/750 carat gold nib which was specially designed to highlight its elegance. The Porsche Design brand emblem is discreetly engraved on the surface of the nib and a limited-edition number is lasered on the barrel.

The mechanism is innovatively concealed in the shaft that is exclusively finished with 14-/585 carat gold coating. When gentle pressure is applied to the end of the pen and the end piece is unscrewed, the mechanism can be removed and the converter can be filled with ink.

The presentation box contains a gold-plated tag showing the number of each fountain pen.

Christopher Ward motors on – precisely

Christopher Ward has expanded its Motoring timepiece collection with the new C7 Rapide Chronometer Limited Edition. The new model is powered by a thermo-compensated quartz movement, while its COSC certification brings high-precision chronometer status to the C7 Rapide family. Complementing that accuracy, the C7 Rapide Chronometer is meticulously engineered through every aspect of the design, the UK-based watchmaker said. Highlights include the deep cross-hatch engraving used on the crown and chronograph controls, combining ergonomic effectiveness with clarity of design.

Christopher Ward C7 Rapide Chronometer

Motoring heritage

Through its blend of style and technical quality, Christopher Ward’s dynamic C7 Rapide series seeks to capture the spirit of motoring. On the multi-layered precision black dial the sub-dials capture minutes, seconds and tenths (from left to right, respectively), while the tachymeter provides a tool for on-track timekeeping. The clear dial on the 42mm case is completed by the brand’s signature circular date window positioned at four o’clock, emphasising its clean design.

Mike France, co-founder of Christopher Ward, welcomed the new addition to the C7 family, saying: “The new C7 Rapide Chronometer retains the essential design DNA of the Rapide family but now brings COSC-certified timing precision to the C7 collection. We are constantly striving to deliver unprecedented quality at all price levels and this launch is a stunning combination of the Rapide’s exciting motoring heritage with exceptional engineering and I’m confident that it will absolutely delight anyone with a passion for motoring.”

The C7 COSC is a limited edition of 500 pieces worldwide. Each model is engraved with an individual serial number and is presented on an Italian leather strap, including red leather lining and Bader deployment. Models with a black natural rubber or a stainless steel adjustable bracelet option are also offered. Available from mid-April, the watches retail from £599 to £650.

Visit www.christopherward.co.uk

Bacardi launches new Tang spirit

Bacardi has unveiled a new spirit distilled entirely from green tea leaves that can be enjoyed with Chinese food. Priced at around $250 per bottle, Tang will make its worldwide debut in an exclusive campaign with top travel retailer DFS at Hong Kong airport which began on March 19 and runs until May, when it then expands into selected partner restaurants in China. The spirit is made by blending Chinese green tea with spring water from France, resulting in a robust taste and distinctive aroma, the company said. 

The bottle is designed with a distinctive trapezoidal twist to encapsulate the fusion of Western innovation and Eastern traditions. The bottle also features intricate etchings of tea leaf motifs inspired by the design of traditional Chinese tea caddies. The gold foiling is also designed to echo the hues of green tea. 

Tang, a new spirit, can be enjoyed with Chinese food

Exceptional innovation

Mike Birch, managing director of Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “We’re excited to launch this exceptional innovation exclusively in travel retail. It is a perfect example of Bacardi’s strategic commitment to inspiring innovation ideas and a focus on travel retail as a key channel for innovation. Tang is a unique and contemporary development in new drinking experiences. We are confident that its initial launch is in great hands with DFS at Hong Kong International airport.”

The name Tang is inspired by the Tang dynasty, China’s first Golden Age of antiquity and the beginnings of its appreciation for tea. “The Tang dynasty was a period of great accomplishment marked by a spirit of innovation that is similarly embodied by Tang,” Bacardi said.

“The distillation process marks a breakthrough in the world of spirits, conceived by the combined knowledge of multiple scientists and experts from around the globe,” Bacardi continued. Due to the composition of tea leaves and the absence of simple sugar, the experts at Bacardi developed a process that releases complex sugars from tea leaves and transforms them into a fermentable form, resulting in an aromatic compound that forms the essence of the spirit. This is then concentrated and blended in different fractions by top master blenders who retain only the most pleasant and intense flavours. The liquid is then combined with spring water from France, renowned for its purity. “The result is a deliciously complex spirit that embodies and expresses the rich flavours of tea,” enthused Bacardi. 

Bold and fragrant aroma

Tang has a bold and fragrant aroma. The smooth and bitter-sweet taste of tea creates a long, lingering finish that leaves behind a line of heat that extends to the belly. The spirit enhances the taste of Cantonese and fusion dishes that are light and flavourful. 

Matt Djokovic, innovation director of Bacardi Asia Pacific, said the product tasted new yet would inspire a nostalgic familiarity that will intrigue Chinese palates. “Today, the types of spirits that can be enjoyed with food are fairly limited and Tang now brings a new, contemporary spirit option to enjoy during Chinese meals. We believe Tang is poised to deliver a contemporary drink experience that will satisfy consumer appetite for new and refined experiences in dining and other occasions,” he said.

Produced in the town of Cognac, Tang is made only from green tea leaves and French spring water and does not contain any additives, preservatives or sugars.  

Tang is recommended to be consumed neat, at room temperature, without ice, and can be mixed in cocktails. It is available in a 50cl bottle and retails at HK$1,888 (about $250).

Paul & Shark plots US expansion

Italian luxury lifestyle brand Paul & Shark is stepping up its investment in the US domestic market over the next year and is confident that this will reflect in new airport retail opportunities in the country. The company is opening two new stores this year, while two others are being renovated and expanded. 

Mid-April sees the opening of a new 1,500sq m boutique in the Forum Shops in Las Vegas, created by Milan-based Takeda Katuya Design to reflect Paul & Shark’s new Milan showroom. And at the end of 2015, a 1,900sq ft store will begin trading in the Houston Galleria.

Paul & Shark's store at the Forum Shops in Las Vegas

In addition, Paul & Shark will be extending its Rodeo Drive, Beverly Hills store from 1,700sq ft to 2,000sq ft on the main floor plus 700sq ft on a mezzanine, with completion expected by September. Next March will see the brand’s shop in Aventura, Florida also expanded from 1,400sq ft to 2,600sq ft. Paul & Shark also has a monobrand boutique on top shopping street Madison Avenue, New York.

All the stores will feature new-concept interiors and storefronts of blue undulating aluminium sheet patchwork, intended to reflect waves, evoking Paul & Shark’s yachting heritage.

Attracting high-spending Chinese tourists

The stores are expected to attract visitors not only from the US but also China and the Middle East. “It is the rapidly increasing levels of visitors from these high-spending nations that bode well for Paul & Shark’s travel-retail development in America,” the firm said.

Worldwide travel-retail director Catherine Bonelli added: “It is definitely the right time for Paul & Shark to focus on the US; currently it represents just 10% of our global business but we consider there is huge potential here for this Made in Italy luxury lifestyle brand. We are now also exploring travel-retail opportunities in the US, where we can find the right locations and space. Americans are becoming more and more familiar with Paul & Shark and this, combined with the growing increase in Chinese, Middle Eastern and South American visitors to the States, gives us a perfect travel-retail opportunity.”

Furla corners the market in Barcelona

Furla has opened a new 6sq m corner in the newly renovated store operated by Items D’Ho at Barcelona airport. The Terminal 1 store began trading in March, carrying the Italian fashion company's Spring/Summer 15 collection.

Gerry Munday, Furla's global travel retail director, said: “Thanks to Items D’Ho for their help with this opening, one of many new Furla openings in Europe this year, closely following our refurbishment of a Furla store in Cyprus. We look forward to many more Furla openings globally this year.”

Furla's new corner at Barcelona airport Terminal 1

Furla's refurbished 30sq m location in Larnaca airport, Cyprus, brings it in line with the accessories brand's new concept design. The refurbished store reopened in February with the assistance of CTC-ARI Duty Free, offering the Spring/Summer 2015 collection.

Furla's renovated store at Larnaca airport, Cyprus

Said Munday: “Almost every month sees us open a new duty-free store or an update of an already existing one, which keeps us extremely busy. My sincere thanks to CTC for their help with this renovation.”

A sublime new Bombay Sapphire campaign

Bombay Sapphire, the world’s number one premium gin by value and the fastest-growing premium gin in the world, has unveiled its new Sublime marketing campaign in travel retail as part of a global multi-media campaign. Film and visuals seek to bring to life the “intrinsic and extrinsic” qualities of Bombay Sapphire, including the botanicals sourced from the ends of the earth and the 250-year-old recipe.

Bombay Sapphire travels to Indochina for the cassia bark botanical in the Sublime campaign

Valerie Brass, global brand director for Bacardi-owned Bombay Sapphire, said the film intended to create wonder and inspire consumers: “Since its inception, Bombay Sapphire has sought to create moments of Sublime beauty: from the selection of ten botanicals from locations of extraordinary beauty; to the elegant vapour infusion process; to its iconic blue bottle and glassware; to the beauty of the distillery and glasshouses at Laverstoke Mill [Hampshire, UK] which opened to the public in October 2014. This new campaign is a natural expression of that heritage,” she said.

Grains of paradise come from West Africa

A new brand film, directed by award-winning Laurence Dunmore, takes the viewer on a journey through four of the locations where Bombay Sapphire sources the 10 botanicals that go into the gin: Morocco (coriander seeds), Java (cubeb berries), West Africa (grains of paradise) and Indochina (cassia bark). Shot from the point of view of a man holding the blue bottle, the film is described as “a beautiful collage of the locations, sublime encounters and botanicals which evoke the Bombay Sapphire pursuit of Sublime beauty”.

Java is the source of cubeb berries 

Social media support

To support the brand film, Sublime imagery was also captured at the four botanical locations. The imagery is filtered through the blue bottle with the words, “Vapour Infused with Beautiful Botanicals from the Ends of the Earth” etched onto it. The film and imagery evoke the quality each botanical brings to Bombay Sapphire: the subtle heat of the cubeb berries from Java, the sweetness of the cassia bark from Indochina, the vitality of the coriander seeds from Morocco and the spice of the grains of paradise from West Africa. 

The campaign film and imagery are being further supported on Bombay Sapphire social media channels with the #FindSublime campaign hashtag.

MCM launches Ekocycle project with will.i.am

March saw the launch of MCM’s pioneering Ekocycle collaboration with the singer will.i.am at London department store Harrods. Celebrating style and sustainability, MCM has joined the #Regeneration with Coca-Cola and will.i.am, an initiative that "seeks to push the boundaries of innovation and invention in the world of luxury", according to the German luxury brand.

MCM launches the Ekocycle project at Harrods in London

The brainchild of the Coca-Cola Company and will.i.am, the Ekocycle brand’s ambition is to educate and empower consumers to seek out more sustainable lifestyle choices. The exciting new venture offers products partially made from assorted recycled PET bottles designed to be inspirational, yet accessible.

The visionary project seeks to inspire a world where waste becomes a resource to create graphic, eye-catching accessories. will.i.am said: “Waste is only waste if you waste it,” adding: “We’re not Generation X or Generation Y, we’re the generation who sees opportunity where others see waste.”

will.i.am wears his MCM Ekocycle backpack

Currently available at the exclusive Ekocycle shop-in-shop at Harrods, the collection was unveiled for the first time on March 5. The MCM x Ekocycle collection will be launched worldwide in April 2015 in Germany, France, Korea, Japan, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, China and the US, including MCM’s new online shop.

MCM's Ekocycle collection will be launched worldwide in April

The limited-edition collection is handcrafted in the traditional MCM aesthetic, interlaced with the Ekocycle insignia. The backpack is an evolution of the quintessential MCM shape, now decked in brass studs arranged in graphic arrow motifs, available in two sizes.

The tote provides a luxurious, high-style day bag designed to fit contemporary needs. Printed in the classic MCM Visetos pattern, the bag aims to make a statement with distinctive graphics. The tri-colour Hip Sac presents both utility and style in a sleek, hands-free package, while the clutch and zip wallet reimagine everyday essentials in eye-popping colours and gorgeous textures. The iPhone 6 Case and iPad Mini Pouch give stylish new homes to tech gadgets.

Harrods' Ekocycle shop-in-shop

MCM said: “From rubble to rucksack, the latest collaboration raises the bar on responsible style, affirming that luxury and innovation are cut from the same cloth. Bridging the gap between green and glamour, the MCM x Ekocycle Collection transforms one man’s trash into a trendsetter’s tote.”

Other brands involved in the Ekocycle project include Globe-Trotter, H Brothers and Ecoalf.

Diageo raises the bar in Beirut

A pop-up bar showcasing Diageo’s luxury spirits at Beirut Rafic Hariri airport has proved a success with travellers, the UK liquor giant reports. The Diageo Reserve World Class promotion was launched in December as a partnership between Diageo Global Travel and Middle East and Beirut Duty Free to bring the theatre of mixology to passengers.

Diageo Reserve World Class bar at Beirut airport

The visually striking bar echoed the style and sophistication synonymous with Diageo Reserve World Class, one of the world’s most prestigious mixology competitions. During the four-week event, Hani Mohtar from Lebanon, a former finalist in the competition, entertained travellers with his cocktail creations that showcased different aspects of his craft and creativity, providing nearly 700 individual serves to passengers.

Beirut Duty Free general manager Ciaran O'Neill said: “We have developed a very successful partnership with Diageo over many years and this latest promotion has really raised the bar in terms of an engaging customer experience and exceptional commercial results."

Double-digit sales uptick

Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, added: “Working with Beirut Duty Free, we were able to deliver a disruptive activation that gave a really premium feel to the shopping experience at Beirut Duty Free. By inspiring travellers to take home a taste of luxury through insights into amazing cocktails, we were able to drive awareness of our Reserve brands and achieve a double-digit increase in sales volume compared with the same period last year.”

To celebrate the fact that Johnnie Walker is the leading Scotch whisky in Beirut Duty Free, travellers passing through the airport were given the opportunity to enter a competition to win a trip for two to Scotland to visit the home of the brand. The winner was Linda Kfoury, who will be travelling to Cardhu Distillery later this year, where she and her guest will stay in Drummuir Castle and enjoy a tour and tasting session at the distillery.

Copenhagen airport hosts Mulberry event

Copenhagen airport is set to host a Mulberry Loves Craft event, enabling passengers to create their own leather bracelet from the UK fashion house.

“This is a unique possibility to create your personal leather bracelet from Mulberry,” said the airport operator of the Mulberry Loves Craft event, which will take place in the Nytorv shopping area at Terminal 2 in Copenhagen airport from March 19 to March 21.

MJ Rabbit loves this latest on-airport retail experience. See the pictures below:

Above and below: Create your own Mulberry bracelet at Copenhagen airport

MCM gets down to business in Frankfurt

German luxury brand MCM has opened its largest store in Europe facing one of Frankfurt’s most historically renowned buildings, the Old Opera. The newly opened boutique, dubbed the MCM Opera Store, aims to be an architectural landmark for culture, art and style.

Abover and below: The exterior of MCM's new Frankfurt flagship

The 340sq m space is located directly on the junction of luxury fashion streets Goethestrasse and Fressgass in Frankfurt's central business district. The historic Old Opera was erected during the Wilhelminian era, serving as a pillar for heritage, excellence and prestige. Attracting millions of visitors, the concert hall hosts around 300 performances, recitals and events each year.

Above and below: Bespoke tables are used to display handbags and accessories

Designed with an exclusive cornerstone motif, the MCM boutique features glass curvatures that cascade around the facade. The store provides panoramas of blanched fixtures and polished graphite interiors, inspired by avant-garde aesthetics contrasted with minimalist facades.

The store has concrete walls and polished graphite interiors

The split-level Opera Store also presents murals of back-lit wooden panels against concrete-laden walls, offering sweeping views of its collections on display. Designed with gilded hues, marbleised tones and luxurious iron fittings, the austere interior serves as a luxurious canvas to highlight the brand’s latest lines.

The store has separate zones for women’s and men’s items, plus a VIP area with a spectacular panorama of the Old Opera.

The VIP area offers panoramic views of the Old Opera

Customers can relax in the bar area

Johnnie Walker honours Dubai in new collection

Diageo has partnered with renowned paper artist Jeff Nishinaka to release a series of limited-edition Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch whisky travel exclusives for 2015 featuring handcrafted designs of famous cityscapes. Each bottle in the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection is engraved with a Nishinaka handcrafted design, bringing to life the cityscapes of some of the world’s most iconic travel destinations. The first edition celebrates the character and culture of Dubai.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Cities Collection - Dubai Edition

Individually numbered bottles 

The paper artist’s handcrafted sculpture was inspired by the distinctive character of the city and seeks to mirror the craftsmanship of Johnnie Walker Blue Label. His art is brought to life on each bottle as a celebration of the art of the whisky’s master blender, whose skills have been passed down through 190 years of blending heritage.

Only 1,500 bottles of the Dubai edition have been produced, with each bottle individually numbered. It will be available from February 2015 exclusively in travel retail at a recommended price of $258 (or local equivalent) for a one-litre bottle.

Peter Fairbrother, global marketing director of Diageo Global Travel and Middle East, said:

“With the increase in international travel, the world has become a much smaller place and we get many more opportunities to visit beautiful cities, rich with character and experiences. With this exclusive limited edition range we wanted to capture the essence of some of these great cities, creating a unique, premium gift or collector’s item that would be a memento of a special destination.”

The new Cities Collection follows the success of Diageo’s 2013 Johnnie Walker Blue Label Skyline Collection.

Davidoff announces largest flagship store

Davidoff of Geneva is to open its biggest ever flagship store in late 2015, located in the MetWest International Retail Village in the US city of Tampa, Florida. The 5,000sq ft space will be the company’s first licensed flagship outside Las Vegas. Davidoff of Geneva USA will open the new location in partnership with Jeff and Tanya Borysiewicz, the owners of Orlando-based Corona Cigar Company. To create a destination in the city, the completely humidified store will be filled with premium retail space, lounges both indoor and out, private lockers, as well as an elegant full-service bar serving premium alcoholic beverages.

The proposed exterior of Davidoff's new Tampa store

A premium retail experience

Jim Young, president of Davidoff of Geneva North America, said: “We are delighted to open a new ‘Davidoff of Geneva - since 1911’ store in our home market. We are particularly excited to do this in partnership with Jeff and Tanya who have been outstanding Davidoff partners for quite some time. They know how to provide consumers with a premium retail experience, they know our entire product portfolio, and they know our company.”

Jeff Borysiewicz, president of Corona Cigar Company, said: “We're thrilled to expand our retail operations and to serve cigar enthusiasts in the Cigar City of Tampa. We look forward to creating the ultimate cigar experience in a community with such a long history of cigar manufacturing and rich cigar culture. It's an honour to be partnering with Oettinger Davidoff, the global leader in premium cigars and luxury cigar stores, and it is exciting to be building upon the legacy that Zino Davidoff started over 100 years ago.”

Inside the planned Tampa flagship store

Davidoff to build new factory

In other news, Oettinger Davidoff has purchased land to build a new cigar factory in Danlí, Honduras, as the growth of its Camacho and other Honduran brands has outgrown the capacity of the current factory, which will be divested. The company has also acquired tobacco farmland in Nicaragua's Condega region as well as in the Jamastrán valley of Honduras.

Hans-Kristian Hoejsgaard, CEO and board member of Oettinger Davidoff, said: "Our acquisition of over 150 hectares of land in Condega, Nicaragua, and in Jamastrán, Honduras, represents a further strengthening of our crop-to-shop philosophy, which is an anchor of our global strategy. I am equally delighted that a splendid new Camacho (Agroindustrias Laepe) factory designed by Honduran architect Gonzalo Núñez Díaz, and including expansive visitor accommodation, will underpin the growth trajectory of the Camacho, Room101 and Baccarat brands."

Javier Plantada, senior vice president global production of Oettinger Davidoff, added: "I am particularly delighted about the quality of the farmland we have been able to acquire, which not only will provide us with top-notch tobacco quality, but also will allow us to pursue our innovation agenda and experiment with new and existing seeds.”

The plot of land for the new factory in Danlí covers almost 450,000sq ft of land. The factory will, in phase 1, cover more than 185,000sq ft and reflects the 60% growth in production output the company has experienced in the last three years.

Bénédictine drinks to Chinese New Year

A limited-edition, travel retail exclusive Bénédictine liqueur has been launched to commemorate the year that the brand was awarded a gold medal at the 1868 International Exhibition. The Bénédictine 1868 Gold Medal Limited Edition is aimed at the gifting category and had its world-first launch at DFS stores in Singapore Changi airport to coincide with Chinese New Year.

Bénédictine 1868 Gold Medal Limited Edition at Singapore Changi airport's Mix-It-Bar

The Bacardi-owned brand is popular in Singapore and Malaysia, and is Changi’s top-selling liqueur. Retailing at S$95 per bottle, the new product is an original Dom Bernardo Vincelli recipe, blended with Cognac and enriched with Angelica root. The packaging showcases the Bénédictine bottle embellished by strong luxury cues of gold printed directly on to the glass, with a gold seal fixed centre-front and finished off with intricate gold foiling, featuring the blend’s 27 herbs and spices.

“Chinese New Year is a vital retail opportunity at Singapore Changi, especially for gifting,” said Irving Holmes Wong, regional director Asia-Pacific, Middle East & Africa at Bacardi Global Travel Retail. “As part of Bacardi’s commitment to category innovation and differentiation, a unique and special presentation of Bénédictine has been created and is one of the most popular and iconic brands in the region. We use our insight into gifting to create tremendous uplifts in conversion by truly engaging shoppers with our portfolio of brands at point of purchase, intriguing them in new ways they want to replicate at home.

“In the case of Bénédictine 1868, sales success comes from giving them a stand-out personal experience with this fantastic liqueur – whether they are discovering its versatility for the first time or seeking it out as a new limited edition of their personal favourite.”

Bénédictine 1868 glorifier

The story of the House of Bénédictine was brought to life in-store and at the tasting bars with brand ambassadors offering the traditional hongbau red envelopes – a symbol of New Year good fortune – secured with a Bénédictine wax seal. Inside, a message invited shoppers to “Share the Secret” and to sample the drink at the bar.

With an emphasis on encouraging new, younger consumers to explore Bénédictine for the first time, the menu of serves included fresh and contemporary pairings such as The Benediction, a blend of Bénédictine Dom and Martini Alta Langa dry sparking white wine, or the warm serve of Bénédictine Dom with rose tea. Also on offer were Bénédictine B&B or Bénédictine 1868 served in a Cognac glass, neat over ice or with lemon zest or wedge. The Singapore Sling was also available on request. 

The multi-sensory experience at the bar featured display jars containing its key botanicals and interactive digital media. Developed in partnership with DFS, the Chinese New Year experience ran across all terminals at Changi and was the first major activity to be hosted in the new Cloud Bar at Terminal 1 – an innovative new space including a digital touch table where people could learn about the heritage, flavour and perfect serves. The activation also included promotional offers, including a complimentary Bénédictine-branded tote bag with purchases over S$60.

Another high-calibre Christopher Ward launch

Christopher Ward, the UK watch brand that launched its first in-house movement last July, has put this innovation to work in the new C9 5 Day Automatic model in a smaller offering. The new C9 5 Day Automatic (40mm) follows in the pioneering steps of the 2014 launch of the fellow 43mm model, which was introduced simultaneously with Calibre SH21 – a debut that resulted in many requests for a smaller sized option housing the movement.

Christopher Ward C9 5 Day Automatic 40mm watch with new charcoal dial

Created by Christopher Ward’s watchmaker, Johannes Jahnke, SH21 is COSC-certified and, once fully wound, can run for 120 hours/5 days. Unlike most movements with such extended reserves of power, there is no compromise in the stability or robustness of the movement, the company says. This means the wearer can be confident that the watch will withstand rugged conditions and requires the minimum of servicing.

Alongside those technical strengths, Mike France, co-founder of Christopher Ward, highlights the brand’s response to rising demand for smaller dial sizes: “The enthusiastic reaction to the C9 5 Day Automatic, the first model to house Calibre SH21, sparked a wave of calls for a smaller version. The new 40mm model expresses all the powerful design and technical qualities seen in the original C9 5 Day Automatic and gives those customers wanting a smaller size watch access not only to the C9 aesthetic but also the opportunity to own the stunning SH21 movement.

“We’re gradually creating a greater choice of sizes in a number of our most popular models, further expanding the accessibility of our collections to the many consumers who want a smaller diameter dial.  We’re seeing a clear rise in demand for smaller dial options, especially among women but also many men who prefer the smaller scale, and the new C9 5 Day Automatic meets this demand beautifully.”

New charcoal dial colour

The design of the C9 5 Day Automatic exudes elegance and high quality – from the sharpness of the dial’s indexes to the fine embossed alligator pattern Italian leather strap. The new model, which retails at £1,375, has a stylish Galvanic sunray dial and is offered in three dial colours – white, blue or a new charcoal option. The movement can be viewed through the sapphire crystal exhibition window in the case-back.

The brand has emphasised its English roots with a deceptively simple finish using a traditional, highly skilled, hand-grinding technique favoured by English watchmakers of an earlier era. Each wheel has been properly turned and each screw flat-polished, and each watch has the traditional English steel finish.